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Anita Lock

YA FictionYA

An unrepentant Scrooge

Review by Anita Lock

Cynthia Hand’s newest novel is a modern-day retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a clever, otherworldly twist.

Holly Chase hates Christmas. The last thing the 17-year-old snooty fashion junkie expects is to be visited by three actual ghosts on Christmas Eve. But she refuses to change her horrible ways, making her a failed Scrooge. Then Holly dies, and now she’s a ghost (or more like a quasi-zombie) who works for a secretive New York-based company called Project Scrooge. As their new Ghost of Christmas Past, she hasn’t been fazed by much in her afterlife until she’s assigned to rich teen Ethan Winters, Scrooge number 173. When she starts researching him for the job, she discovers that they have similar backgrounds. But things get out of hand when she decides to meet him in real life.

Hand has produced an unforgettable behind-the-scenes tale with a clever cast of characters pulled from many of Dickens’ works. As with Dickens’ beloved 1843 Christmas novella, The Afterlife of Holly Chase incorporates themes of life, death, self-improvement and, of course, a little bit of romance.

Hilarious yet poignant while supplying a delightful blend of clichéd and unexpected moments, Hand’s latest novel is earmarked to be a new Christmas favorite.

Cynthia Hand’s newest novel is a modern-day retelling of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol with a clever, otherworldly twist.

RomanceContemporary Romance

Bruised but not broken

Review by Anita Lock

Roxanne Snopek embraces the complications of trauma and recovery in Sunset Bay Sanctuary, the first novel of her new series set in the beautiful beaches of Oregon.

Haylee Hansen trains therapy dogs at her aunt’s Sanctuary Ranch, a halfway house that provides tough love and support to foster kids, troubled adults and anyone else in need of a fresh start. Through a strange set of circumstances, including an unsettling blast from her past, Haylee meets Aidan McCall, the town’s new ER doctor, who later contacts her about getting a therapy dog to help with his PTSD. It’s difficult for Haylee to get Aiden to divulge his traumatic past, and Haylee is equally reluctant to share her tragic history. She’s learned to steel her emotions and has determined to keep her life simple, without romantic attachments. But Aiden sweeps her off her feet, and both must decide whether to face their demons or give up a chance at a lasting, profound connection.

Snopek beautifully incorporates her leads’ individual backstories within the central romance, alternating between Haylee and Aiden’s perspectives as they begin the delicate process of sharing their pasts and allowing the other to know them fully. And although Haylee and Aiden are front and center, Snopek also draws the reader’s attention to supporting characters and their struggles—building a community of fascinating people, all with their own burdens and journeys. Replete with surprising twists, Sunset Bay Sanctuary closes on a cliffhanger sure to entice readers to look forward to the next installment of this warmhearted series.

Roxanne Snopek embraces the complications of trauma and recovery in Sunset Bay Sanctuary, the first novel in her new series set in the beautiful beaches of Oregon.

YA FictionYAComing of Age

Adolescent life during the in-between years

Review by Anita Lock

Liara Tamani’s debut novel, Calling My Name, captures the experience of an African-American preteen growing up in Houston, Texas, during the late 1980s and early ’90s.

Taja Brown is on the cusp of blossoming—emotionally, physically, spiritually. While waiting for her flat chest to transform and wishing for other changes in her physical features (like losing the gap between her front teeth), Taja pushes the boundaries of her strict Baptist upbringing. First, she tries lying. Her momentary empowerment after she successfully gets away with a fib quickly morphs into guilt as she utters silent apologies to God. Although she is a good student, maintaining high grades is not the only thing on her mind. Kissing is definitely another, but it doesn’t amount to much during middle school. But everything changes in high school when she begins dating Andre. What Taja doesn’t know is that her guilt level will hit an all-time high when her parents present the young couple with Purity Rings.

A collection of 53 first-person vignettes, Tamani’s numberless chapters make Calling My Name resemble a journal. Grouped into eight sections—and sprinkled with moving quotes from notable black writers like Zadie Smith, Gwendolyn Brooks and Toni Morrison—these vignettes serve as poignant snapshots of pivotal moments in Tamani’s life. Although she jumps from one event to the next, Tamani manages to seamlessly tie Taja's story together in this witty and thought-provoking coming-of-age novel told from an African-American perspective.

Liara Tamani’s debut novel, Calling My Name, captures the experience of an African American preteen growing up in Houston, Texas, during the late 1980s and early ’90s.

RomanceHistorical Romance

High stakes, high society

Review by Anita Lock

Joanna Shupe spins a clever, opulent tale in the first book of her Four Hundred series, A Daring Arrangement.

The year is 1890. Lady Nora Parker is the daughter of an earl who is sent to America when her father sees her together with Robert, a commoner. She can return to London once she finds an upstanding man to marry. Nora, determined to reunite with Robert, contrives a plan guaranteed to get her father’s attention—feigning an engagement with the “outrageous and improper” financier, Julius Hatcher. Julius has no intention of marrying, but agrees to Nora’s arrangement if she helps ingratiate him into high society. Problems develop when Nora’s schemes to create scathing gossip constantly go awry, but the one thing she doesn’t expect is falling in love with Julius.

Shupe presents a set of flawed yet absolutely charming, well-developed lead characters in her new series. Weaving in a variety of aspects that capture the Gilded Age, A Daring Arrangement balances the glamour and the glitz with the reality of the social norms that stifled men and women during this era. Nora is surrounded with wealth and prestige, but at a great price since they dictate her individuality. Julius may be a wizard with numbers, but smarts don’t always win out, especially if you’re not a blue blood. Shupe slowly builds the sexual tension as both Julius and Nora refuse to admit their feelings for each other, yet find themselves growing inexorably closer. With its witty, revealing dialogue and fascinating looks at both high and low society in turn of the century America, A Daring Arrangment is a highly entertaining and engaging read.

Joanna Shupe spins a clever, opulent tale in the first book of her Four Hundred series.

RomanceHistorical Romance

A Highlander goes west

Review by Anita Lock

The year is 1860. Iain MacEnroy and four of his seven brothers are traveling through the Arkansas Ozarks when Iain smells smoke. Their investigations lead not only to the brutal murders of a young couple, but also to two escapees—Emily Stanton, a well-bred English woman, and her young nephew, Neddy. While transporting her and Neddy to the MacEnroy residence to tend to her wounds, Iain finds himself falling for her, and Emily feels likewise. Although Iain and Emily have more in common than they think, there is also more to Emily than Iain is aware of. When the men who killed her sister and brother-in-law discover where she and Neddy are staying, she must decide whether to trust her rescuer with her secrets.

Set in the ruggedly beautiful but essentially lawless American frontier, The Scotsman Who Saved Me is a fascinating new take on the highlander romance. Howell introduces a whole set of memorable characters with Iain, the oldest of the MacEnroy brothers, and Emily at the forefront. Iain and Emily may come from two different worlds—English gentry and Scottish commoner—but Howell makes sure that both her protagonists are more than class stereotypes. Howell also gives her audience plenty of time to get to know the rest of the cast by slowly and steadily ratcheting up the action.

If the upcoming books share The Scotsman Who Saved Me’s assured mix of character development and suspense, Howell fans have much to look forward to in this new series.

Set in the ruggedly beautiful but essentially lawless American frontier, The Scotsman Who Saved Me is a fascinating new take on the highlander romance.

Children's & YAMiddle Grade

Facing down a disease with laughter

Review by Anita Lock

Mustaches and the magic of cards unexpectedly come in handy when a brain tumor challenges a brave 12-year-old girl.

Maddie Bridger always earns some chuckles when she dons a fake mustache. Even the teachers let out a laugh when she pulls a mustache from her pocket and slaps it on her face during her school’s Shakespeare play audition. Maddie’s classmate Cassie has high expectations of becoming Juliet, but when Maddie ends up landing the role, their friendship is strained, and Cassie begins bullying Maddie. Fortunately, Maddie is used to battling monsters—mostly imaginary ones, especially when she’s playing ninja-like games with the other fifth graders. But when the results of an MRI show that she has a brain tumor “about the size of two and a half golf balls,” Maddie knows that she has a real monster to face.

Authors Chad Morris (the Cragbridge Hall series) and Shelly Brown (Ghostsitter) are the parents of a real-life girl named Maddie, who was diagnosed with a brain tumor at 9. Their tale reflects the ups and downs of a young person braving such a terrifying journey. Morris and Brown capture the interests of middle grade readers from the get-go with Maddie’s high-energy, imaginative narration and her love for sporting fake mustaches. But the story doesn’t end there. Amid surgeries (she ends up having two within one year), there are topics that Maddie ruminates on, such as life, friendship and the importance of accepting oneself.

Very funny yet poignant, Mustaches for Maddie is an encouraging read.

Mustaches and the magic of cards unexpectedly come in handy when a brain tumor challenges a brave 12-year-old girl.

YA FictionYA

Can a single moment destroy a lifelong friendship?

Review by Anita Lock

Difficult life choices lay ahead for one senior who holds onto deep secrets about her crush in bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s latest.

Lena Wise has mixed emotions about her friends splitting off and heading to various colleges after high school. She wants nothing more than to make the most of her senior year and the time she has left with all of them, especially Sebastian Harwell, her best friend and next-door neighbor. Lena and Sebastian have known each other since childhood, and she is secretly in love with him. During a summer outing to the lake, Sebastian and Lena innocently goof around, and their playful banter eventually leads to her giving him a peck on the lips. Sebastian, unfortunately, doesn’t return the kiss. A few days later, things seem to have blown over, and Sebastian invites her to come with him to a party, but the two get into a disagreement. What follows is not only unexpected but also throws Lena’s life off-kilter.

Although Armentrout opens with a bizarre scene and leans on some cliché dialogue, she steers the story back around and makes sure to lead readers to the crux of her plot. Through Lena’s first-person narration, Armentrout crafts a storyline that feels all too real. Without giving away any spoilers, Armentrout weaves several teen issues (crushes, sex, love and dysfunctional households) into her narrative that are sure to resonate with today’s youth. If There’s No Tomorrow is nothing less than a thought-provoking read, and Armentrout will keep readers hooked until the very end.

Difficult life choices lay ahead for one senior who holds onto deep secrets about her crush in bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s latest, If There’s No Tomorrow.
RomanceHistorical Romance

Beauty and the duke

Review by Anita Lock

Love tames the beast in Tessa Dare’s refreshing romance between a vicar’s daughter and a war-scarred duke.

A duchess-to-be breaks off her engagement to the Duke of Ashbury (Ash to his friends) because of the burn scars that cover his body. The situation is not only a blow to his manhood, but also puts him at a disadvantage since it is imperative for him to have an heir to his estate. Unaware of Ash’s unfortunate circumstances, seamstress Emma Gladstone, who was never paid for creating an elaborate wedding gown for the upcoming bride, makes an audacious move by showing up at Ash’s doorstep dressed in the ornate garment to ask for her money. Ash takes advantage of the serendipitous moment by countering Emma’s demands with an unusual proposition—he’ll make her a duchess. What Emma and Ash don’t expect is for romance to enter into the picture.

Candid and hilarious dialogue abounds in this slow-burning, steamy read. Dare’s attention to emotional detail creates driving sexual tension between her headstrong yet damaged leads. She utilizes Emma’s low social status and gender to shine a light upon the flaws of the wealthy and powerful—creating a clear contrast between the prestigious, cold facade Ash attempts to display to the world and the truth of a man marred by cynicism even before his injuries. This clash is especially noticeable during the burgeoning romance between Emma and Ash, as their disparate life experiences heavily influence their respective views on love and relationships.

With her light touch and sparkling humor, Dare effortlessly weaves in social commentary alongside the perfectly crafted love scenes and declarations of affection, making The Duchess Deal a novel that is bound to become a new favorite among romance buffs.

Love tames the beast in Tessa Dare’s refreshing romance between a vicar’s daughter and a war-scarred duke.

RomanceYA FictionYA

A quirky quest to break a curse

Review by Anita Lock

An awkward situation turns into a unique opportunity to face fears in Krystal Sutherland’s latest. Esther Solar and her household are reminiscent of the Addams Family: They are not only riddled with phobias but also cursed because of Grandpa Reg, who claims to have met Death. For the last six years, 17-year-old Esther has attempted to reverse their curse by avoiding pretty much anything that could kill her. She even created “A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares,” her sacred inventory that was kept under wraps until Jonah Smallwood, a former childhood friend, steals it from her at a bus stop. Although she demands that he return it, he cleverly counters with a challenge: If Death is a person, “we find him, we talk to him, we get him to lift the curse.”

Sutherland has a distinctive ability to combine extreme concepts and even wackier characters to create a story that is both uproariously funny and thought provoking. Deftly weaving irony within her narrative, Sutherland blends realities of teen life amid the strangest of circumstances. Full of surprises that culminate in an unexpectedly sweet romance, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares is earmarked to be a classic.

 

This article was originally published in the September 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Sutherland has a distinctive ability to combine extreme concepts and even wackier characters to create a story that is both uproariously funny and thought provoking. Deftly weaving irony within her narrative, Sutherland blends realities of teen life amid the strangest of circumstances. Full of surprises that culminate in an unexpectedly sweet romance, A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares is earmarked to be a classic.

FictionPopular Fiction

Hope and friendship

Review by Anita Lock

An unusual encounter turns into a serendipitous yet life-changing situation in Eva Woods’ latest uplifting work of women’s fiction.

The last thing Annie Hebden wants is a friend. At 35, Annie is down in the doldrums, having had her fair share of troubles in the past and now dealing with her mom, who is in the advanced stages of dementia. Annie is in the middle of sorting out an issue with the hospital staff regarding her mom’s care when a strangely dressed gal named Polly Leonard strikes up a conversation with her. The following morning, Polly shows up on Annie’s doorstep. Polly, who has a brain tumor and only three months to live, insists on brightening Annie’s life by challenging her to experience 100 days of happiness.

Annie is dubious at first, but she is pleasantly surprised when the daily challenges lighten her mood. Although Annie makes great strides with the project, what remains is whether or not she can complete the challenge before Polly’s time is up.

Inspired by the “100 Happy Days” challenge, Woods presents a hilariously uplifting and heartwarming story of hope in the midst of despair. Her easygoing writing style engages the reader from the get-go, turning a 400-page novel into a light read. While Annie and Polly stand at the forefront, Woods weaves in an interesting, well-developed supportive cast, many of whom act as foils to build up Annie’s character.

Lightly reminiscent of the movie The Bucket List but successfully avoiding hackneyed scenes, Something Like Happy includes a little bit of everything—even the hope of romance. This is an enjoyable read that needs to spread far and wide.

 

This article was originally published in the September 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

An unusual encounter turns into a serendipitous yet life-changing situation in Eva Woods’ latest uplifting work of women’s fiction.

Children's & YAMiddle Grade

Adventures in Appalachia

Review by Anita Lock

Meika Hashimoto spins a nonstop extreme adventure in her coming-of-age novel.

Twelve-year-old Toby is hiking the Appalachian Trail, and he’s determined to complete his journey from Velvet Rocks to Katahdin alone—a promise he made to his best friend, Lucas, who is not so adventurous as Toby. But along his trek from New Hampshire to Maine, Toby finds himself among others instead of keeping to his solo mission, especially when a mangy old dog, Moose, shows up after Toby is rescued during a violent storm. Toby has no idea that his rescuers—two older teen hikers named Denver and Sean—will play critical roles in his life, and the last thing he expects on the trail is for Moose’s owner to show up.

Hashimoto punctuates her gripping novel with a flurry of facts and the sights and sounds of one of the most challenging aspects of the world’s longest hiking-only footpath. With this first-person narrative, Hashimoto will capture the attentions of middle grade readers, as Toby is not only riddled with internal struggles but also pushes himself to a near-impossible quest. Hashimoto surrounds her cast with wild animals as well as the mercurial yet hazardous weather conditions that are characteristic of the northern sector of the Appalachian Trail. While readers don’t have to be familiar with this aspect of the trail, it certainly helps and will only prove to enhance Toby’s many great outdoor encounters.

The Trail is perfect for extreme adventure enthusiasts.

Meika Hashimoto spins a nonstop extreme adventure in her coming-of-age novel.

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